Holiday Temptation Rediscovered (Spreads)

Member Name: shewhosmiles

Product:	Spreads
Date:	13/05/03 (138 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Tasty, stays fresh, Easy to open and use

Disadvantages: none

My first time was on one of my Maltese holidays about 10 years ago. My friend Christine and I stayed in St Georges Apartments in St Julians Bay, where the nightlife was about the busiest on the island. We always managed to extend our nights out until at least 6.00 am, even if that meant we were playing cards or dares in the streets with the locals.

This particular morning we went down to the rocky beach by the casino and for some mad reason I was drunkenly paddling in a rock pool. Of course I slipped and sat down with a painful thump, ending up with a bruised rump and a necklace of mosquito bites. We walked up the hill to our apartment, Christine laughing and me trying to hide the fact that my long soggy figure hugging blue dress was revealing far more than a bikini would.

On the way we encountered a bread delivery van and bought a fresh crusty loaf and a few leers from the driver. At the hotel a coach full of new arrivals were standing outside with their suitcases looking bemused at the rep and then astonished at the sight of the pair of us. Fortunately the loaf was covering part of my embarrassment but I must have looked a sight in that dripping dress. I remember calling out something inane like 'Nice day for a swim' before we ran giggling into the hotel.

Once I'd showered, dried and put my nightie on we sat out on the balcony as normal and watched the sun rising while we discussed the events of the night out over a cuppa and a bite to eat. The mosquito bites were starting to feel uncomfortable by then so Christine hacked chunks off the bread while I put cream on my bites. “Will this do?” she asked as she waved a tube of Primula Cheese Spread at me. There wasn’t anything else in the fridge so I agreed to try Christine’s favourite spread even though I didn’t fancy it.

Combined with the freshly baked bread it was wonderful, the best cheese spread that I’d ever tasted. For the rest o
f that holiday and several afterwards we lived off Primula on bread or on toast and Pizzas. We discovered the cheese and ham and cheese and chives flavours so at least we had a bit of variety. We bought it in a tube, very much like one that toothpaste comes in. One of the good things about it is that it stays fresh for several days after opening. Vital in hot Malta, where the apartment fridges weren’t that good and milk went off in less than a day.

Back in England I bought it occasionally when I had a yen for cream crackers or crisp breads and wanted something especially tasty to spread on them. Then I forgot about it for a few years until this week. My food habits change with my lifestyle and for the first time in years I’ve been taking sandwiches to work rather than being tempted with the very fattening goodies in the shop. The trouble with sandwiches is that they can become boring if you don’t fill them with lots of flavours. Temptation overrides common sense and the sandwiches get binned in favour of crisps, chocolate, cakes and pies, costing more in money and in calories.

I’d tried nearly all of my favourite sandwich fillings and was wondering what the heck to buy to help avoid temptation as I prowled the supermarket on Saturday. Then I saw my old friend looking bright and cheerful in amongst the Dairy Produce. There was only my favourite flavour Cheese and Chives in stock, so I grabbed a tube before I could change my mind.

On Monday morning I squeezed the yellow and green tube and a creamy looking trail with green bits in it made it’s way across a slice of wholemeal bread, ready and waiting for me to smooth it out and top it with another slice. Come lunchtime I was ravenous and the lure of chicken tikka slices was getting too much for me. With massive restraint I turned my back on them and picked up one of my unappetising looking sandwiches.

My first bite was heaven, the cheese tasted scrumptiou
sly creamy and the chives although apparent added to the taste rather than overwhelming it. Sitting on an upturned beer crate out the back with the sun beating down on me I almost felt as if I was back on that balcony in Malta. Today I made Primula sandwiches again and enjoyed them just as much. I have 2 days off and am working for 3 days. I know that I’ll make and enjoy them then, which will mean 5 days of sandwich filling for just £1.09. I doubt the tube will be finished but you are supposed to use it within 7 days of opening. Hopefully when I go shopping again I’ll be able to get some of the other flavours and enjoy my lunches from now on.

On the health front the tube tells you that it’s a good source of calcium, helpful for our bones, teeth, nails and hair. The fat content looks high but as there are only 354 calories in a 150g tube, spread over 5 days that’s only about 70 calories for each day’s sandwich so not bad really. Primula is also suitable for vegetarians.

Apart from spreading on sandwiches and crackers the makers Kavli Limited of Tyne & Wear offer 2 tasty tips: Delicious as a filling for baked potatoes or melted into cooked mashed potato for a cheesy treat. I must try those tips and if I don’t like them I can always ring their customer care line on 0800 716551 from 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday.

Mmm now I’ve got the tube in front of me I feel like being transported back to Malta again.

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